November's La traviata kicks off opera, concert series

March 6, 2008|By Jack Zink Theater/Music Writer

Florida Grand Opera will open its 68th season in November with a new production of Verdi's La traviata directed by Bliss Hebert, the first in a lineup of five productions and a new series of three concerts featuring baritones Dmitri Hvorostovsky and Bryn Terfel, and tenor Marcello Giordani.

All operas will play at both Miami's Arsht Center and the Broward Center. The new concert series will have one performance each in Miami only.

La traviata runs Nov. 15-Dec. 6 with soprano Eglise Gutierrez, a former Miamian, alternating in the role of Violetta with Ailyn Perez. Gutierrez has continued to perform locally with Orchestra Miami but will be making her first appearance with FGO. Alternating as Alfredo will be tenors Stephen Costello and Leonardo Capalbo. Director Herbert will team with set and costume designer Allen Charles Klein to design the new production, which will be conducted by Stefan Lano of Teatro Colon in Buenos Aires.

The remainder of the season includes Rossini's La Cenerentola (Cinderella) Jan. 24-Feb. 7 with Jennifer Riviera and Julie Boulianne alternating in the title role, and Arizona Opera's Joel Revzen conducting. Delibes' Lakme, set in British colonial India, runs Feb. 21-March 7 with soprano Leah Partridge, officially designated an "FGO favorite," alternating with Evelyn Pollock. Mozart's The Marriage of Figaro runs March 21-April 4 with sopranos Kelly Kaduce and Elizabeth Caballero alternating as the Countess, and Puccini's Madame Butterfly plays April 25-May 16 with Shu-Ying Li as Cio-Cio San, and tenor Arnold Rawls returning as Pinkerton. FGO music director Stewart Robertson will conduct the latter three.

Each opera opens in Miami and moves to the Broward Center for the last three days of each engagement. La Cenerentola and Lakme have two performances in Broward, the others each have three.

The Superstar Concert Series opens with Hvorostovsky and soprano Ekaterina Siurina on Jan. 3 at the Arsht Center's Knight Concert Hall. Giordani appears with Partridge on March 9 and Terfel sings with soprano Sarah Coburn on April 6. All three concerts will include a full orchestra.

Whether or not the opera company continues to use Sunset Entertainment's Florida Classical Orchestra remains to be seen. FGO is expecting contract proposals "from other sources" as well as a contract renewal bid from Sunset, according to Justin Moss, managing director for marketing and communication.

Season tickets for the operas begin at $40 and range to more than $7,000 including donation packages. Single opera tickets range from $10-$250, and concert tickets from $10-$140. Information is online at fgo.org and by calling 800-741-1010.